Was Jeremy Wendell J.R. Ewing’s Most Dangerous Enemy on ‘Dallas’? A Definitive Ranking

DALLAS, Larry Hagman, 1978-91 (1982 photo). — Douglas W. Dubler/TV Guide/CBS /courtesy Everett Collection.

The late William Smithers, best known for his role on Dallas as WestStar Oil’s hard-nosed chairman Jeremy Wendell, died on May 26, in Santa Barbara at the age of 98. Smithers appeared in 50 episodes of the granddaddy of all primetime soaps, portraying one of the most formidable business rivals ever to cross paths with J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman).

He’s a slick one, but where does Jeremy Wendell rank among J.R.’s greatest enemies? Check out our ranking to find out where the ruthless oil tycoon lands on the list.

6 Holly Harwood (Lois Chiles)

DALLAS, Lois Chiles, (Season 6), 1978-1991

Everett Collection

J.R. started out in Holly’s boardroom as the brains behind Harwood Oil after the death of her father. Holly’s scheme to get J.R. out of her life worked a little too well as she arranged for Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) to catch her husband and Holly in bed together. The fallout indirectly led to the death of Mickey Trotter (Timothy Patrick Murphy).

5 Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval)

DALLAS, Ken Kercheval, Sheree J. Wilson, 1978-91

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J.R.’s longest foil almost didn’t make this list at all, as Cliff would often get himself worked up, falling for nearly all of J.R.’s schemes. In fact, Cliff owes his greatest success — an oil strike in the Gulf of Mexico — to J.R., who tricked Cliff into overbidding for the tract known as Gold Canyon 340!

4 Jeremy Wendell (William Smithers)

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Smithers played Jeremy as cool and calm, even in the trickiest of negotiations. He wasn’t a member of the cartel like J.R.’s other fellow oil men (and women). Jeremy was top dog at WestStar, one of the biggies. In the end, however, J.R. outfoxed Jeremy, despite his power.

3 Pam Ewing (Victoria Principal)

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J.R. had a very special place in his heart for Pamela Jean Barnes Ewing. He hated her. In the show’s pilot, she snapped back hard at her brother-in-law that he should call her “MRS. EWING!” when J.R referred to Bobby’s (Patrick Duffy) bride as “Miss Barnes.” Years later, Pam hit J.R. where she knew he’d hurt by trying to help take Ewing Oil away from him.

2 Kristin Shepard (Mary Crosby)

Lorimar Television/Everett Collection

Everyone on Dallas wanted to shoot J.R., and Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), J.R.’s wife would have at the end of Season 3, but her sister, Kristin, got there first! J.R. got his revenge a season later when Kristen “accidentally” fell off a balcony and into the Southfork pool.

1 Rebecca Wentworth (Priscilla Pointer)

Dallas Priscilla Pointer, Victoria Principal, (early 1980s), 1978-91

Lorimar Television/Everett Collection

Rebecca had the emotional motivation and the financial means to take down J.R., as she felt that J.R. drove her son Cliff to a suicide attempt. Rebecca had the money to back up her plan, as she inherited Wentworth Industries from her late husband. Alas, Rebecca’s hatred of J.R. led to her getting on a plane, which crashed. Had Rebecca lived, she might very well have succeeded where others failed!